13¹ A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

² A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

³ He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

⁴ The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

⁵ A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.

⁶ Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner. [1]

⁷ There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

⁸ The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

⁹ The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp [2] of the wicked shall be put out.

¹⁰ Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

¹¹ Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour [3] shall increase.

¹² Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

¹³ Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. [4]

¹⁴ The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

¹⁵ Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

¹⁶ Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

¹⁷ A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful [5] ambassador is health.

¹⁸ Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

¹⁹ The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

²⁰ He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. [6]

²¹ Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

²² A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

²³ Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.

²⁴ He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

²⁵ The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

Exhortations to Obedience

3¹ My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: ² For length of days, and long [7] life, and peace, shall they add to thee. ³ Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: ⁴ So shalt thou find favour and good [8] understanding in the sight of God and man. ⁵ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. ⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

⁷ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. ⁸ It shall be health [9] to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. ⁹ Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: ¹⁰ So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. ¹¹ My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: ¹² For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

¹³ Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. ¹⁴ For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. ¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. ¹⁶ Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. ¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. ¹⁸ She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. ¹⁹ The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established [10] the heavens. ²⁰ By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

²¹ My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: ²² So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. ²³ Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. ²⁴ When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. ²⁵ Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. ²⁶ For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

²⁷ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. ²⁸ Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. ²⁹ Devise [11] not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. ³⁰ Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm. ³¹ Envy thou not the oppressor, [12] and choose none of his ways. ³² For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous. ³³ The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. ³⁴ Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. ³⁵ The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.